1.22.2015

It's so much easier to get things done when you don't feel like a puffy toad, don't you think?

The bad food cravings are a thing of the past. I am in love with the Paleo whole foods way of life.

75% veggies + 25% meat = 100% delicious!

(Note 0% processed foods, sugar, grains)

Sure some days don't go as planned and the crap gets in, but not much and not often! The result is worth the initial hassle of learning the rules. Seriously, I feel so good! And my husband and kids do too.

The extra energy has gone into just naturally moving more (sitting for hours in front of the TV is simply not appealing now). So decluttering is easier, the dog is getting more walks, the laundry gets put away, we are all sleeping better (husband has snored as long as I've known him -that's over 20 years- not snoring anymore!)

I'm gushing like a proud momma because it's just so good. If you are feeling pain, slowness or depression, or tired of acne and bloat, research the "Whole 30" first (it's the best plan for breaking the processed food cycle), then Google all the gorgeous, easy Paleo recipe blogs and pintrest boards. If your first reaction is panic at giving up something, then maybe you aren't ready to feel better. But if you the least bit excited about the food... Give it an honest try for 30 days!

The first 10 days can be a roller coaster of ick with your body panicking and all those things you are trying to fix go into hyper drive (aches, acne, bloat, lethargy, headaches) then the clouds lift, the cravings back off and the healing begins. Slow at first... Depending on haw damaged your system is it can take months to really feel "good", but you should feel "better" by the end of the 30 days, enough to maybe want to keep going!

I'm not even sure I want to reintroduce some of the foods... They say you can bring back things for a couple days and see how it goes. Legumes, non-gluten grains, dairy, then gluten grains. But at this point I am doing fine without these things.

I'm pretty sure soy is something I can live without forever now that I've found the coconut aminos to replace soy sauce. Everywhere else, it's kind of hidden in processed foods, and my husbands homemade paleo mayonnaise is divine!

But it would be nice to try peanut butter again. If it turns out to disagree with me, oh well, but it is a comfort food for sure, and far less expensive than the nut butters.

Happy Shiny Me has never been a more honest blog name. I feel radiant these days! Thanks to good, honest food and a family that's on board!

1.11.2015

Simplifying for a better quality of life is essentially why I started this blog.

Stuff has left the house by the box load, and it's helping clear my head with less bits and bobs to think about.

(Latest box of craft related items for charity)

But in recent times, with this best-ever healthy lifestyle change, my food shopping has been really simplified, and my pantry is streamlined like never before! There are whole departments of the grocery store that I can ignore! Fruit, veg (fresh, frozen or canned) and all sorts of yummy meats and seafood pretty much cover the whole list! No junk, juice or processed anything leaves out most of the inside aisles. And the bread and dairy section have nothing for me (except milk for the kids). The weekly specials flyer can be looked through way faster too, only a couple pages even hold interest for me anymore. Just because it's on sale, not good enough reason to bring it home.

Reading labels is liberating. As soon as I come across an ingredient that I am rescuing my body from being exposed to I know I never have to buy that again! Of course my mind may change in the future, I may get more relaxed after I am through the "detox" and "healing" phases, but for now I am revelling in the clear and beautiful food choice "rules" and my body is rewarding me with smooth joints, clear thoughts, energy and good mood. All that just solidifies my resolve to keep doing this "easier" way of shopping.

I will admit, cooking and prepping take more time, but I am loving that part - exploring all the pretty and easily found recipes out there.

My first attempt at making Kimchi was frankly terrible, then I found this Paleo version and decided to try it since veggies and fermented foods are both so good for us.

http://paleoleap.com/fermented-food-recipes/#s5

After a week of the mixture sitting quietly beside my fireplace, I decided to give it the sniff test. Mmmmm it smelled wonderful! Like spicy fresh saukraut (I loved my dad's homemade saukraut). Then a tentative nibble.

Wowza! That stuff is electric flavours of spicy, salty and veggy in perfect harmony.

So happy that it turned out like that. Thank you Paleo Leap for posting the lacto-fermentation recipes!